The need for reform of the medical examination system / by T. Pridgin Teale.

  • Thomas Pridgin Teale
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The need for reform of the medical examination system / by T. Pridgin Teale. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    From the questions set in Physiology at the end of the second year I have selected three which seem to me to be open to criticism on principle, as tending to cram. “ Explain the terms myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism. How would you correct these errors of refraction 1” “ Describe the appearance of the interior of the larnyx as seen by the laryngoscope. What changes are noticed in phonation and respiration, and how are they brought about ? ” “ What sounds can be heard on applying the ear to the chest ? Explain exactly how they are caused.” For my part I do not see how these questions can be answered, except by means of mere verbal cram, by those who cannot have worked clinically at “ refraction,” “ laryngoscopy,” and “ auscul- tation.” It is, however, when we come to the rather fancy subjects, such as hygiene and medical jurisprudence, that we meet, in the latter stages of medical education, with the most questionable questions. Iu hygiene, for instance :— “ What do you understand by the expressions ‘ effective popula- tion,’ ‘ dependent population,’ ‘ density of population ’ ? ” “ What impurities of a deleterious character are found in bread ? ” “ IIow ought a hospital to be constructed in order that each patient may have an efficient supply of pure air ? ” “ Define the word ‘ nuisance ’ according to law. Show the different statutory provisions under which nuisances may be dealt with.” “How will you dispose of the house-refuse (liquid and dry) of a large urban district ] ” Questions such as these are suitable enough in an examination for a diploma in public health, but are unpardonable when set for medical students. There is one more question, to which I will take the liberty of suggesting the answer : “ In the event of cases of typhoid fever occurring in a family, what steps should be taken to ascertain that the water supply and sanitary fittings are in proper order ? ” My answer is, what I should do myself in such a case, “ Send for the sanitary inspector.”